Trouble w/transitions (STM's)

RedDDD

**I posted this on the Toddlers 24+ board but since a lot of you are STM's and I find this board has a lot of great gals with good ideas, I thought I wouls also post here.

My 2.5 yr old is really starting to have trouble with the various daily transitions. The biggest issue we are having is leaving DC.  I usually go and get DS and he is on the playground with all the other toddlers.  As soon as he sees me he runs to me and hugs me and seems ready to go.  As soon as we are back inside the DC building he loses his sh*t.  He will lay on the floor limp, crawl around, and generally give me those screw you eyes Im not going anywhere.  The trouble is I have to go and get my 1 yr old too.  The last few weeks he has wanted me to carry both of them (which sometimes I do just do to get out the door) UGH!  The last couple of times I have left him in the entry way of DC (which is a closed off safe area with windows looking out on to my car) taken my 1 yr old and buckled her in and then gone back for him and carried him out screaming crying.

I would love for this pattern to stop and for us to leave happy.  Tonight I may try bringing him inside and taking the time to get down on his level and allow him the option to play for one minute or show me a favorite toy before we leave.  The play room is empty since all kids are typically outside so this would allow some clam one on one time.  Then once we have played for one minute it is time to go...maybe that will help make the transition more smooth and predictable for him?  

Any thoughts or tips?  What has worked for you?

Thanks!!

RedDDD

Its not a bad idea....I see the logic, but I think he would freak out if he thought I was leaving without him.  A lot of the time the melt down begins once I go get the baby and we are trying to leave.  I was just thinking maybe I will try to go get the baby first, pick him him off the play ground, THEN stop to play for a minute in the big play room and THEN go.  Not sure how that would work but I guess its an option.

RedDDD

These are good ideas too.  DH picks him up a few days a week.  I typically pick up twice a week.  I don't think DH has as much of an issue with it as I do for whatever reason

RedDDD

yea...love it...esp. when I see that smug look on DH's face like...what? this doesn't happen for me...they only do this when you are around.  Oh bite me

RedDDD

These are all helpful suggestions  @CurlingRocks your suggestion about giving him a job really worked.  I know he loves my car key fob so when I got to DC I handed him my keys and said you have a very important job.  You get to hold mommys keys and press the unlock button so that mommy can put Whitney in her car seat.  And that totally worked.  He carried my keys all careful like he was taking it very seriously and we walked to the car and he unlocked it for me and away we went.  #winning!